Key Issues > Toxic Chemicals
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Toxic Chemicals

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces long-standing challenges assessing and controlling the risks associated with toxic chemicals.

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Tens of thousands of chemicals are currently in EPA's chemical inventory and an average of 1,500 new chemicals are introduced into commerce each year. EPA conducts chemical toxicity assessments under its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program and is authorized under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to obtain information on the risks of chemicals and control those it determines pose an unreasonable risk. Obtaining adequate scientific information on chemical toxicity and exposure levels and completing timely, credible chemical toxicity assessment have been long-standing challenges for EPA. Such assessments are the cornerstone of scientifically sound environmental decisions, policies, and regulations under a variety of environmental statutes, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Air Act.

Looking for our recommendations? Click on any report to find each associated recommendation and its current implementation status.

Chemical Assessments

Challenges Remain with EPA's Integrated Risk Information System Program
GAO-12-42, Dec 9, 2011

Chemical Assessments

Low Productivity and New Interagency Review Process Limit the Usefulness and Credibility of EPA's Integrated Risk Information System
GAO-08-440, Mar 7, 2008

Chemical Regulation

Comparison of U.S. and Recently Enacted European Union Approaches to Protect against the Risks of Toxic Chemicals
GAO-07-825, Aug 17, 2007

Chemical Regulation

Options Exist to Improve EPA's Ability to Assess Health Risks and Manage Its Chemical Review Program
GAO-05-458, Jun 13, 2005

More Reports

Critical Infrastructure Protection

DHS Efforts to Assess Chemical Security Risk and Gather Feedback on Facility Outreach Can Be Strengthened
GAO-13-353, Apr 5, 2013

Toxic Substances

EPA Has Increased Efforts to Assess and Control Chemicals but Could Strengthen Its Approach
GAO-13-249, Mar 22, 2013

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Preliminary Observations on DHS Efforts to Assess Chemical Security Risk and Gather Feedback on Facility Outreach
GAO-13-412T, Mar 14, 2013

Oil and Gas

Information on Shale Resources, Development, and Environmental and Public Health Risks
GAO-12-732, Sep 5, 2012

EPA Health Risk Assessments

Oversight and Sustained Management Key to Overcoming Challenges
GAO-12-148T, Oct 6, 2011

EPA Health Risk Assessments

Sustained Management and Oversight Key to Overcoming Challenges
GAO-11-824T, Jul 14, 2011

Environmental Protection Agency

Major Management Challenges
GAO-11-422T, Mar 2, 2011

Environmental Health

High-level Strategy and Leadership Needed to Continue Progress toward Protecting Children from Environmental Threats
GAO-10-205, Jan 28, 2010

Chemical Regulation

Observations on Improving the Toxic Substances Control Act
GAO-10-292T, Dec 2, 2009

EPA Chemical Assessments

Process Reforms Offer the Potential to Address Key Problems
GAO-09-774T, Jun 11, 2009
More...

Videos

High Risk: Transforming EPA's Process for Assessing and Controlling Toxic Chemicals
  • portrait of Alfredo Gomez
    • Alfredo Gomez
    • Director, Natural Resources and Environment
    • gomezj@gao.gov
    • 202-512-3841